TURKEY’S civilian and military leaders are considering new curbs on religious education as part of a campaign to stem the spread of political Islam.

The National Security Council, made up of top generals and political leaders, discussed the measures on December 28 and is expected to press parliament to approve a series of draft laws.

One proposal is that religious high schools should be closed down by extending compulsory education from eight to 12 years. This would practically limit religious education to universities.

Under pressure from the military, the government closed down religious secondary (middle-level) schools and Koranic courses in 1998, by raising the number of compulsory years in school from five to eight.

A year earlier the military forced an Islamic government out of power when it failed to implement the same reform and 17 other anti-Islamic measures. The religious schools, imam hatip, had been set up to train mosque teachers, but by this time were educating almost half a million children.

While the overwhelming majority of Turks are Muslims, the government is staunchly secular and has striven for years to reduce the clout of Islamic political groups, who are seen as a serious threat. Its determination will have been strengthened by the September 11 attacks on its closest ally and military benefactor, the United States, and the threat to stability caused by radical Islamic groups in the region.

But critics have warned that imposing new bans on Islamic schooling - and other measures such as limiting business financing of Islamic groups - are likely to fan tensions between the secular establishment and Islamic circles.